_To Mr. G―――― H――――._
_Deal, July 5, 1748._
AND how does my dear old friend Mr. _H――――_? Surely he will send me
a line now! For through the goodness of an infinitely gracious and
condescending Saviour, I am once more arrived at my native country. My
last excursion was to _Bermudas_. We left those islands a month ago,
and GOD was pleased to set his seal to my unworthy ministry in a very
glorious manner. I know you will be thankful in my behalf, and let me
know next post how the brethren are in and about _Gloucestershire_. I
rejoice to find that you still go on steadily and are not ashamed of
the gospel of CHRIST. Why should you? Have you not found it by happy
experience to be the power of GOD unto salvation? Go on then, my dear
Sir, and prove the strength of JESUS to be yours. I long to see you,
that we may talk of redeeming love, and feel our hearts warm with an
holy fire from GOD’s altar. Are the dear old men, the Reverend Messrs.
_S――――_ and _P――――_, yet alive? Pray send them my most dutiful and
affectionate respects, and let them know, that an entrance I trust is
now made into one of the islands for the glorious gospel of the Son
of GOD. O that I was able to fly from pole to pole upon this blessed
errand. But alas! my wings are clipped. My bodily health is much
impaired, and I hoped ere now to have taken my last flight to heaven.
But it seems that happy hour is not yet come. Well, welcome life,
welcome death, so that JESUS, my dear JESUS, may be glorified in both!
Pray that we may shortly meet in the fulness of the blessing of the
gospel of peace. I subscribe myself, my very dear _Gaius_,
Yours most affectionately in CHRIST,
_G. W._